Rumors of gunman in Columbiana Centre mall untrue, authorities say
Rumors about an active shooter in Columbiana Centre mall are untrue, authorities said.
A spokesperson for Richland County Sheriff’s Department said a gunman is not in or near the mall in the Harbison area of Columbia and Lexington County.
An official with the mall also confirmed that the mall is not experiencing a shooting incident.
The rumor was started after balloons were popped inside the mall and caused a “mass hysteria,” a Columbiana Centre security dispatcher said.
The popping balloons “startled shoppers,” Columbia Police Department said.
Stores in the mall went into lockdown mode when rumor of shots fired spread. Columbia Police Department and Columbiana security teams responded, the dispatcher said.
People were asked to evacuate stores, according to one source, but the rumors of a gunman were found to be untrue before a full evacuation happened, Columbiana Centre said.
The mall is returning to normal now, the security dispatcher said.
After the false reports, Columbia Police Department said “if you see/hear something, SAY something. Despite the false alarm, shoppers did the right thing by calling 9-1-1. We’re equally grateful that there was NOT an emergency.”
Irmo Police Department, Lexington County Sheriff’s Department and Richland County Sheriff’s Department responded to the reports as well.
This story was originally published November 30, 2019 at 6:00 PM.